Chances at Princeton?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>I am currently a junior from China and had a turbulent junior year. I entered a prestigious boarding school, Phillips Academy Andover, at the start of this school year and loved it. I loaded up on the hardest classes, including AP US History, accelerated BC calculus, AP Physics C. My grades were not like they used to be, due to a combination of adjustment to a new environment and health reasons. My first trimester, I ended up with a 4.0 GPA out of a possible 6.0 (unweighted). My counselor said that as an incoming junior I had nothing to worry about and that Universities would understand. My second trimester was slightly better, but not ideal. I ended up with a 4.5, better but not up to my usual standards.</p>

<p>During spring break, I had a conversation with one of my sophomore year teachers. I told him about Andover, about all the fun I had and the opportunities open to me. However, as I continued, I realized the activities were not as enriching as I wanted them to be. For example, community service for the New England elite meant sharpening pencils in a nearby daycare (where Andover teachers sent their kids). I come from a farmer's family, and most of my uncles are still in the farms in rural China battling poverty. When I was in China, I attended an international school, and there I established a microcredit lending program, Farmwell, which targeted these farmers and helped them gain economic independence by having members of the international communities extend loans directly. I thought it was selfish of me, spending 50 grand a year in the states to attend boarding school, and so therefore returned to China in order to fulfill my social responsibilities. I came back around March, and have since then worked greatly with Farmwell, establishing a website, farmwell.org, and raising more money.</p>

<p>Now, my grades are near perfect. Before Junior year, I had straight As. I have a 2400 for the SATS. I am editor-in-chief of an independent arts and lit magazine, and I am interning at a microcredit company this summer. Next year, I am taking Multivariable Calculus, AP Chem, AP Econ, AP Art. I never thought too much about how my move back to China would affect getting into my dream schools, but apparently not many people walk away from a school like Andover. Oh well.</p>

<p>Have I completely botched my chances at Princeton? Recently their director of admissions emailed me and I replied, and he followed up. We have corresponded about possible majors, etc.</p>

2

<p>bump</p>

3

<p>Frankly, I’m mixed as to call you out for humblebragging or congratulating you on your achievements. Surely (if you are real), you know that a 2400 SAT, perfect grades at Andover and “botched your chances” in the same discussion is completely inappropriate and frankly, noisome.</p>

<p>The more I type, the less mixed I become. And you can’t convince anyone that real advice about your Princeton chances can’t be had on your campus.</p>

4

<p>As a recently accepted student, I honestly think that you are fine. They know that Andover is more rigorous than other schools, and the fact that you are challenging yourself with the hardest available classes serves as a testimony to your hard work and intelligence. </p>

<p>From talking to admissions officers, it seems that they stress the strength of your schedule more than how you actually perform. I mean, your grades are still great, and considering they were the hardest classes at Andover, I don’t think you have to worry about them questioning your academics.</p>

<p>You sound like an awesome person and I don’t see why they wouldn’t take you! Just remember that these types of universities can have ostensibly random decisions. Just work hard and I hope to see you at Princeton!</p>

5

<p>On the surface, it looks like you are on track for the Ivies. But, there is something that’s just not making sense about your story. You call your junior year “turbulent” but then say it was great fun (until you got your grades). You left, went back to China because it was vulgar to spend $50K in the US when you should have been fulfilling some social responsibility in China, but still came back and paid the $50K tuition. If that’s really how it was, then maybe you have a great essay about coming of age and transformation to go with your perfect SATs and now-perfect GPA. It it’s not really how it went down, then use your essay to explain why you went off the tracks and what you learned from it and don’t hide anything.</p>

6

<p>T26E4. The thing was that I did not have perfect grades at Andover. Andover has a different grading system and there really would not have been a problem if 4.0 meant 4.0/4.0. No, it means 4.0/6.0. That’s not that great… But thanks for your advice anyways, I see how it could have been annoying had I mentioned a perfect GPA.</p>

7

<p>plz accept my apologies for not reading closely. I see you mentioned that. Good luck</p>

8

<p>.</p>